The Feather's I^ractical Pigeon Book 



wealthy fancier for their owner. The nature and habits 

 of the pigeons are not changed by their surroundings. 

 Billing and cooing, pairing and breeding go on as 

 happily in the novel as in the' mansion, and the poor 

 man, sitting on his haunches in his cramped and con- 

 tracted garret, sees as much to admire, love and delight 

 him as his more favored brother, with his aviaries' of 

 wire and glass. ; 



All classes of fanciers find the pigeon-loft and aviary 

 a pleasant place to pass a restful hour. Here the phy- 

 sician, while watching his birds, can calmly study out 

 some efScient remedy for a baffling disease ; the lawyer 

 smoke and solve a knotty problem of law; the clergy- 

 man find practical matter for a sermon from the text, 

 "Yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove, that is covered 

 with silver wings, and her feathers like gold" ; the mer- 

 chant find relief from the perplexity of figures and the 

 importunity of collectors; the man of leisure from the 

 demands of society and the whirl of fashionable life. The 

 shoemaker, the carpenter, the blacksmith, and the labor- 

 er seek their lofts in the early morning, and when the 

 clay's work is done; and the pleasure they derive in 

 handling and caring for their pets serves to cheer and 

 lighten their labors through the following day, and is 

 a loadstone that' helps to call them home when the day's 

 labors are ended. Many a man and boy have been kept 

 '• from evil associations by the attractions afforded by a 

 few pigeons about their humble homes. ' 



While each may have his favorites, and derive pleas- 

 ure from the various kinds he owns, those who keep a 

 flock of flying pigeons, such as Antwerps, Dragoons, or 

 any of the varied family of Tumblers, probably find a 

 greater diversity of amusement than those who have 

 nothing to admire but form and feather. The mania or 



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